Combined door-holding and door-checking device



Od- 17, 1,4939- R. l. scHoNlTzER 2,176,641

I COMBINED DOOR-HOLDING AND DOOR-CHECKING DEVICE` original Filed' Aug. 1'1, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTR RUDOLPH l. SCHONITIZERv A TTORNEY OQ*- 17, 19391 ,Y R. scHoNlTzER 2,176,641

I l COMBINED 'DOOR-HOLDING AND DOOR-CHECKING DEVICE original Filed Aug. 11, 1934 2' sheets-sheet z- INVENTOR RUDOLPH l. SCHONITZER Patented ocr. 11,' 1939 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED DOOR-HOLDING AND DOOR-g CHECKING DEVICE Rudolph I. schonitzer, shaker Heights, ohio Application August 11, 1934, Serial No. 739,426 Renewed December 10, 1937 1s claims.

This invention relates to a device for releasably .holding a hinged door in open position and forv cushioning outward swinging movement thereof, the present devicebeing of the same general character as that disclosed in my prior application for a Combined door-holding and doorchecking device, application Serial No. 727,891, filed May 28, 1934, which eventuated in Patent No. 2,137,197, November 15, 1938.

The general object of the present invention is the provision of a door-holding and door-checking. device .which is of simple and inexpensive construction, of strong and sturdy character, and of great utility. Y

Further objects of the present invention are vto provide for structural simplicity, compactness,

. manufacturing economy and certainty of operation under all predetermined conditions.

With lthe foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description of the present invention proceeds, said invention resides in the combination andi arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes in the presentinvention as herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l'is a side elevation of a portion of an automobile body, each of the four doors thereof (two of which are shown) having associated therewith a combined door-holding and doorchecking device embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a. horizontal, longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the left iront door of said body anda portion of the post or pillar structureA thereof on which said door is hingedly mounted, the door being in closed position and the holding and checking device therefor being in inoperative position, the view being on the line 2-2,'Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the door releasably held in open position .by said device; Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of the parts of Fig. 3,' the View being on tlie line 4 4, Fig. 3; and Figs.Y 5, 6 and 7 are detail cross-sectional views on the lines. 5-.5.

6-6 and 1-1, Fig. 4, respectively.

In the portion of vthe automobile body shown in Fig. 1, I represents the left front door and 2.

(Cl. lli-86) To eiectively prevent undesired closing movement of hinged doors, whether mounted on vertical or non-vertical axes, the device of the present application was designed, the chief function of which is to releasably and automatically hold a hinged door in open position whenever it is moved thereto. To avoid the necessity of using a separate Vdevice for cushioning the opening movement oi such a door, the present device is so constructed that it also functions as a check or cushioning means therefor, all as willhereinafter more fully appear.

. For purposes of illustration, vthe details of construction of the holding and checking device for the left front door I of the automobile body of Fig. 1 are shown in Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive of the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the`\ holding and checking devices for the other doors of said body are of like construction.

As shown, the present improved door-holding and door-checking device includes'a relatively iiat metal strap or link I0 having; its rear end pivotally or otherwise suitably connected to the door I, preferably to an intermediate portion of the hinged side thereof, such as between the hinges 3. Such connectionof said strip or link to said door' is here'effected by the use of a bifurcated lug I2 welded orotherwise` suitably secured to the front edge wall I3 of the door and by a rivet I4 or the like connecting the rear end o f the strap or link to said lug.

The frontor free end of said strap-or link I0 lies Within the space IB in the left front body post or pillar structure, said structure comprising the left front body post or `pillar 4 and outer and inner body side walls I8, I9 suitably se cured thereto, the outer side wall I8 being of metal, as is usual, and the inner side wall I9 being projecting means suitably mounted onthe front vor free end portion of said strap or link YWithin the aforesaid space I6, said projecting means being here shown as a generally cubical block of rubber 21 and being mounted on said strap or link front or free end portion between Itwo spaced abutment means, the construction of which will be later described.

Arranged within the space ls of the left 'front post or pillar structure and welded or otherwise suitably secured to the front wall 22 of the post or pillar 4 thereof, over the strap or link-receiving opening 24 in said post or pillar wall 22, is a suitable rigid retaining means for releasably receiving and retaining, upon opening movement of the door I, the resilient projecting means, the rubber block 21 inthe present embodiment, of the strap or link I0, thereby enabling said door to be automatically maintained in open position whenever it is moved thereto. l The retaining means here shown for the rubber block 21 is of generally box-like character, comprising a pair of opposed retaining side wall portions in the form of metal strips 3| and a pair of opposed connecting sidewall portions in the form of metal strips 30, the latter having integrally formed therewith side flanges 32 which are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to side flanges 34 with which the retaining strips 3| are integrally provided. Such rigid inter-connection of said retaining and connecting strips results in the provision of a rigidcbox-like retaining means, into the chamber 40 of which the rubberblock 21 of the strap or link III is adapted to be forcibly drawn and releasably retained upon opening movement of the door I.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the two rigid retaining strips 3| of the aforesaid box-like retaining means, and those two opposed side walls 42 of the rubber block 21 which cooperate therewith, are of generally convex form for yieldable interengagement in eiecting a releasable retention of the door I in open position whenever it is moved thereto. To permit lateral distortion of said rubber block when it is forcibly drawn into the chamber 40-of said retaining means,..upon,open.. ing of the door I, said chamber has a cross-sec` tional shape differing from the normal crosssectional shape of said block. As here shown, the chamber 4I) of said retaining means is of generally rectangular cross-sectional shape and the rubber block 21 is of`generally square crosssectlonal shape, with theresult that said chamber permits elongating lateral distortion of said block within said chamber upon the forcible entry of said block into said chamber, as indicated in Fig. '1 and as will be readily understood.y

To cushion lateral .movement oi the strap or link III in the openings 23, 24 of the body post or pillar 4, the opening 24 in the front wall 22 of said post 4or pillar has associated therewith a resilient disc 45 of rubber or the like, said disc being provided with a centrally disposed slotl 46 to receive said strap or link, said disc slot beingA smaller than either one of the post or pillar openings 23, 24 and. being located in registration with the post or pillarufront opening 24. Such association of said disc with said post or pillar opening 24 is effected and maintained by the securement of the present retaining means to said post or pillar, the four side walls of said retaining means, namely, the two retaining strips 3| and the two connecting strips 3|), being provided at their rear ends with suitable anges 48 to provide a suitable coniining seat for said disc, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the securement; of the retaining means to the front'wall 22 of the post or pillar 4 is effected by welding orV otherwise rigidlyy securing to said wall laterally extending flanges 50 with which the retaining strips 3l are integrally provided at their rear ends, and such securement of said retaining means also eiects and maintains thedisc 45 inA proper association with the post or pillar opening 24.

To prevent endwise enlargement of the disc slot 46 by the movement therein of the strap or link I0, upon opening of the door I, the connecting strips 30 of the present retaining means are given a tapered form, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the eiect of which is to so guide the rubber block 21 of said strap or link into the chamber 4U of said retaining means that .any substantial sawing of the disc 45 by movement of said strap or link in the slot 46 of said disc is effectively prevented.

Although the rubber block 21 may be mounted on the strap or link I0 by any suitable means and in any suitable manner. said block is here shown as mounted on said strap or link between two abutment means, the front one of which is fast on said strap or link and the rear one of which is slidable thereon.. to a limited degree, in response to and inaccordance with distortion of said rubber block.

The front abutment means for the block 21 is` here shown as in the form of a cotter pin 55, secured in a suitable opening in the front or free end portion of the strap or link' I0, and a suitable i each of said collars'may extend through a side edge thereof, as here shown, in which case. said -collars may be applied to the strap or link, and

the tongues thereof extended through the strap or link slot 6I, by lateral or sidewise. movement of said collars. The rear collar 58 is provided with two forwardly extending, opposed side ilangesl 65, between which' the cooperating front collar 51 is confined against escaping, 'lateral or sidewise movement, said confining .flanges 65 being clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6 By such construction, a very .satisfactory rear abutment means for the rubber block 21 is simply and inexpensively provided, the two collars 51, 53 constituting said abutment means being` capable of convenient assembly with the strap or link I0 in a manner to permit limited 4movement; of said collars in response to and in accordance with distortion of said block, yet without liability of accidental escape of said collars. Moreover -and equally important, the use of 'notches or the like in the side edges of said strap or link, which- When the door I is inclosed position,`-as in 1 Figs. 1 and 2, substantially yall of the strap "or link I0 lies within the left frontfposti-.vorlpillar y structure, the intermediate portion-vof "sai'd' strap' or link extending centrally 'throughvv the boxlike retaining means and. any lateral 'movement'f of said strap or link being effectively cushioned by the resilient disc 45. Upon opening movement of said door, approximately one-half of said strap or link is withdrawn from said p'ost or pillar structure, as shown in Fig. 3, said'strap or link moving clockwise withsaid door andthe rubber block 21 of said strap or link being -forcibly drawn into and being releasably retained inthe cham- Aber in open position with respect to a frame ber Il! of said In this way, the door I is releasably retained in open position whenever it is moved thereto, without, however, interfering with the normal closing of the door, whenever desired. Such automatic and releasable retention in open posi-- tion of hinged automobile doors and the like is quite desirable, especially those doors which" are mounted on non-vertical axes with a consequent tendency to swing to closed position.

After entering the chamber of the present retaining means, upon opening movement of the door I, the rubber block 21, through its movable rear abutment means, yieldingLv strikes or engages the post or pillar-backed resilient disc and thus effects a` further cushioning of said door in the final part of its opening movement.

The present device, therefore, `effectively accomplishes. the dual function of releasably holding the door I in open position whenever it is moved thereto and of cushioning the nalpart of the outward or swinging movement thereof. As a result, the use of a separate check orcushioning means for said door is obviously unnecessary.

If desired, of course, use of the retaining means of the present device may be omitted or dispensed with and the strap or link III, with its rubber. block 2l, used for door checking or door cushioning purposes only,' all as will be readily understood. Other changes in the present device as herein illustrated and described may obviously be made within the scope of the appended claims. I

What I claim is: 1. A device for releasably holding a door meminember, said device comprising a link adapted to bje secured to` one of said members, chambered retaining means of rigid character adapted to be /secured to the` other of said members, and elastic means carried by said link and adapted for re- 2. A device for releasably holding a door member in open position with respect to a frame member, said device comprising a' link adapted to be secled to one of said members, chambered retaining means of rigid -character adapted to be secured to the other of said members, and resilient lmeans carried by said link and adapted for releasable retention in the chamber of said retaining means when said door memberV is' opened, thereby enabling said door member to be releasably held in such open position, the chamber of said retaining means having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape and said resilient means having a generally square crossmembers., and resilient Ameansicarried by said link and ada `ted for releasable retention by said retaining m ans when said door member is opened, thereblenabling said door member to be releasably held in such open position, said retaining means including a pair of opposed retaining portions each having a generally convex part and a generally concave part and a pair oi' opposed connecting portions .of generally straight tapered form, said connecting portions rigidly interconnecting said retaining portions at, the sides thereof and thereby providing a generally y box-like structure for-the releasable reception of said resilient means.

4. A device for releasably holding a door memmember is opened, thereby enabling said door member to be releasably held in such open position, said retaining means including a pair of.

opposed retaining portions and a'pair of opposed guiding portions of tapered form, said retaining and guiding portions providing a generally boxlike structure for the releasable reception of said resilient means.

5. A device for releasably holding a door member in open position with respect to a frame member, said device comprising a link adapted Ito be secured to one of said members, rigid retaining means adapted to be rigidly secured to the other of said members, and resilient means carried by said link and adapted for releasable retention by said retaining means when said door member is opened, thereby enabling said door member to be releasably held in such open position, said retaining means including a pair of opposed retaining-portions and a pair of opposed` guidingportions of tapered form, said'guiding portions rigidly interconnecting said retaining portions at-the sides thereof and thereby providing a generally box-like structure for the releasable reception of said resilient means.

6. A device for releasably holding a door member in open position with respect to a frame member, said device comprising a link adapted to be secured to one of said members, socketform retaining means adapted to be enclosed by and secured to the other of said members. said last mentioned member having an opening through which said link eextends, means mounted upon said link Within said last mentioned member for releasable retention within the socket of said retaining means when said door member ,is

opened, thereby enabling said door member to be releasablyheld in such open position, and resilient means associated with said opening for cushioning' lateral movement of said link therein and preventing the link from making contact with the end Walls of said opening, said resilient means constituting the bottom Wall of the socket of said retaining means and being maintained in association with said opening by portions of said retaining means located outside of said socket.

7. A device for releasably holding a door member in open position with respect to a frame member, said device comprising a link adapted'to be secured to one of said members, socket-form retaining means adapted to be enclosed by and secured to the other of said members, said last 4 mentioned member having an opening through which said link extends, means mounted upon said link within said' last mentioned member for releasable retention within the `socket of said retaining means when said door member is opened, thereby enabling said door member to be releasablyheld in such open position,and resilient means associatedwith said opening for cushioning.

lateral movementof said link therein and preventing the link from making contact with the edge walls of said opening, said resilient means constituting the bottom wall of the socket oi said lretaining means and said retaining means being provided at its bottom and outside'the socket thereof with a conilning seat for said resilient means so as'to maintain said resilient means in association with said opening.

8. In a device for controlling the movement of a hinged door, a link havingmounted thereon .a pair of spaced abutment means and a resilient means therebetween, one of said abutment means having limited slidable movement on said link by means of a tongue with which said last men-v tioned abutment means is provided and by a longitudinally disposed, tongue-receiving slot with which said link is provided intermediate its side edge portions.`

9. In a device 'for controlling the movement of a hinged door, a link having mounted thereon a pair of spaced abutment means anda. resilient means therebetween, oneA of said abutment means comprising a pair of superposed collar members having limited slidable movement on said link by means yof oppositely disposed tongues with which said collars are provided and by a longitudinally disposed, tongue-receiving slot with which said link is provided intermediate its side,

edge portions.

10. In a device for controlling the movement of a hinged door, a link having mounted thereon a pair Voi spaced abutment means and a resilientv device comprising a link adapted to be pivotally secured to one of said members, resilient means carried by said link within the other of said members, and retaining means adapted to be rigidly secured to said last -mentioned member and having two spaced retaining portions of rigid character for receiving and releasably retaining therebetween, upon the opening of said door member, the' resilient means of said link,vwith a consequent releasable holding of said door member in su'ch open position, the space between said rigid retaining portions being less than the nor-- mal corresponding cross dimension of such resilient means, so that displacement of at least a part of said resilient means occurs along the other cross dimension thereof.

12. -A device for relealably holding or retaininga door member in a predetermined open position with respect toa frame member, said device comprising socket-form retaining means vof rigid character adapted to be secured to and enclosed by one of said members, a link adapted to be secured to the other of said members and to ex-1 tend into said first-mentioned member and through lthe socket of the retaining means secured thereto, and resilient means mounted upon said link within said mst-mentioned member for releasable retention by said retaining means '/within the socket thereof when said door member is in a predetermined open position, thereby enabling said door member to be releasa'bly held or retained -in such open position, the longitudinal axis of lthe socket of "said retaining means being angularly disposed relative to the corresponding axis of that portion of the link which extends through said socket when said door member is in closed position relative to said frame member.

t, 13. A device for releasably holding or retaining a door member in a.- predetermined open position with respect to a frame member, said device comprising1 retaining means adapted to be enclosed by one of said members-and secured to a portion through the retaining means secured to a portion thereof, and means mounted upon said link for cooperation with said retaining means in releasably holding or retaining said door member in a predetermined open` position.

14. In a'device for controlling the movement of a door member hinged on a frame member, a link associated with one of said members and having a longitudinally extending slot and a lateral shoulder spaced longitudinally from such slot, an abutment means slidably mounted on said link andl having a portion extending through the slot thereof, and a. resilient means mounted on said link between and in engagement with said lateral 'shoulder and said abutment means, said abutment. means being normally' maintained by said resilient means at that end of said slot which is farther from said lateral shoulder.

l5. A device for releasably holding a door member in open position with respect to a frame member, said devicecomprising a cushioning element .associated with one of said members, a link attached to the other member and extending through openings in said rst mentioned member and said cushioning element, retaining means associated `with said rst mentioned member and having retaining portions which form a retaining chamber, means associated with said retaining portions for holding the cushioning element in such a position that the opening therein is maintained in alignment with the opening in said first mentioned member, and a resilient element carried by said link and being releasably held in the chamber of said retaining means by the retaining portions thereof when the door member is opened and'said retaining chamber having a 

